Abstract

The study presents the data obtained by palynological and microantrachological analyses of samples taken from the Medieval settlement recently unearthed (excavations directed by P. Pensabene) in the southern area of the renowned Villa del Casale of Piazza Armerina (Enna-Sicily). The aim of the work is to reconstruct the history of the natural and cultural vegetal landscape of the settlement and its sorroundings and to compile, based on pollen flora, a list of plants useful to restore the green setting of the site. Materials and methods – 42 samples from the Medieval settlement and from a related vertical profile were studied, covering a time span from the Byzantine age to modern age, plus a recent control sample (moss sample). Chronology is based on archaeological and somewhere palynological evidence. Results – The samples showed a satisfactory pollen concentration, a sufficient state of preservation and a remarkable floristic diversity (about 236 pollen taxa were identified). On the whole pollen shows an open hilly Mediterranean cultural landscape, largely devoted to meadows and pastures, testified by Cichorioideae, Gramineae and many other herbs (e.g. Aster type, Anthemis type, Leguminosae, Mentha type, Umbelliferae). Human influence is testified by a very strong forest clearance, already occurred in the Byzantine fase. Pollen flora anyway testifies wood remnants from different vegetation belts (e.g. Abies, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Fagus, Fraxinus ornus, Myrtus, deciduous Quercus, Q. cf. cerris, Q. cf. virgiliana, Quercus cf. ilex, Pinus cf. halepensis, P. indiff., Phyllirea, Pistacia, Ulmus, Tilia) and fresh water plant communities (Alnus, Butomus umbellatus, Carex, Myriophyllum, Nymphaea, Populus, Sagittaria, Salix, Typha angustifolia,etc.). Besides woody plants suitable for timber, pollen testified a number of useful plants, cultivated or exploited in the wild, for food, decoration or other uses (e.g. Avena-Triticum group, Beta, Corylus, Cynara cf., Hordeum group, Mentha, Nerium oleander, Olea, Platanus, Pinus cf. pinea, Prunus, Secale cereale, Thymus, Vitis ). Some records in the Middle age samples are worth noting: Pistacia vera (pistachios) and Syzygium aromaticum (cloves). Microcharcoals were consistent due to the continuous human activity in the settlement.
Conclusion – The pollen history of the site shows a continuity of tradition during the time. Changes occurred, but the different cultures that followed one another during the time seem to have progressively intermingled in the practices and uses concerning plants and plant landscape. The most strong change occurs in the recent moss sample, affected by cultivation of different olive trees (compared with the past ones) and exotic plants ( Eucalyptus).